What A-List Aestheticians Use After A Day In The Sun
From incorporating cryo masks and tools into their routines to topping up with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C and going easy on actives, these are the skincare hacks the most trusted celebrity facialists swear by to soothe their own post-sun skin
Joanna Czech
Czech has a client list that includes Jennifer Aniston, Bella Hadid, Cate Blanchett and Christy Turlington
“After a long day in the sun, the first thing I like to do is take a cool and refreshing shower. After cleansing, I begin my skincare routine with a pH-balancing toner. You want to avoid anything too acidic, because it will further increase your skin’s irritability. My Joanna Czech Toner is my Holy Grail product all year round – it’s both hydrating and anti-inflammatory, which will help relieve stressed and burnt skin. My Soothing Serum is an incredible after-sun treatment, as it includes an anti-inflammatory pepperberry extract and a bio-ceramide complex to calm red, stressed skin. I also love to cool my face down with a refrigerated sheet mask to help rehydrate and soothe the skin. To finish my routine, I use The Balm, which includes shea butter from Africa and vitamin E to seal in the moisture and prevent water loss overnight.”
“It’s equally important to treat your body as it is your face, especially after a long day in the sun. I like to mix a body lotion with an oil to hydrate and nourish the skin. Always apply these products when both your face and body are damp, because your skin will be more permeable and receptive to moisture.”
“Finally, when you’re in the sun, remember to drink lots of water, because sunburn will draw fluids away from the skin’s surface and cause dehydration.”
Shani Darden
Darden’s celebrity clients include Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Shay Mitchell
“I keep a tube of my Shani Darden Hydra Prep Gel in the refrigerator for a calming, hydrating treatment any time my skin is irritated – which can be great, especially after a day in the sun. It’s an aloe and hyaluronic acid base to soothe skin, and it also adds hydration back into the skin.
“My Retinol Reform is always the number-one product I use for aging reverse. It’s what I use almost every night. I recommend it to all my clients because it’s an effective yet mild formula that provides multiple anti-aging benefits with minimal irritation and can be used with other retinol products.
“I also love to use my LED Light Mask daily for all its amazing age-in-reverse benefits. It’s clinically proven to reduce an uneven skin tone, pigmentation and redness, so it can be particularly helpful as a post-sun treatment.”
Sophie Carbonari
Carbonari is Naomi Campbell’s facialist of choice and is based in Paris
“After a day spent outside my evening routine involves cleansing with Tata Harper’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser followed by a gel cleanser to be sure to get rid of the day’s sunscreen and pollution. I then apply my own S Serum, followed by Goop’s Goopgenes All-In-One Super Nutrient Face Oil, massaging both into my face and neck for six to eight minutes.”
“Preventing sun damage is a real program for me. The first thing I do is a deep cleansing facial to get a good exfoliation, even out my skin tone and get rid of dead skin cells. I follow this with a mesotherapy treatment at my doctor’s office to boost the density of my dermis and improve the health of my melanocytes [which produce pigment]. Then I finish with an ultrasound and radio-frequency session. This, plus SPF50 and sunglasses,is the best way to prevent sun damage.”
Emma Goodman
Goodman, aka The Skin Witch, is the facialist behind Hailey Bieber’s glow
“I’m a huge fan of summer hats. But I also believe that 20 minutes of real vitamin D from the sun on our skin is a must, especially for women. After that, I usually stay in the shade. If I’m in the water a lot, or there’s no shade, I wear a zinc-based SPF, but I avoid all other types of sunscreen.
“After being in the sun, I use an ice cube, cold globes, gua sha stones – or even the gel from my aloe plants – on any parts of my skin that have caught extra sun. My go-to product is always a nourishing balm which I use on my face, neck and chest for extra hydration and soothing benefits. Internally, you can take astaxanthin [as a supplement], which is a great natural antioxidant that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays. It offers other benefits, too, such as DNA and wrinkle repair, and is also known to prevent hyperpigmentation.”
Joomee Song
Song is Zendaya and Lady Gaga’s go-to facialist
“When you have sun damage, the key is to treat it right away, ideally on the same day. L-ascorbic acid [an active form of vitamin C] is the ingredient that will help with inflammation after sun damage, so you can combat it before the brown spots start to appear. It works by blocking the production of pigment and has anti-inflammatory benefits to soothe the skin, too. Vitamin C is used as a sunscreen ingredient in combination with other UV filters in Japan, where I’m from, so I recommend using it daily for anyone who suffers from pigmentation issues.
“I also recommend keeping a bottle of glycerin [a plant-based hydrator] in the refrigerator and using it as a mask for a few days post-sunburn. Simply dilute the glycerin with a little bit of water, or a gentle toner, and apply it directly to the affected area. Leave it for about five to 10 minutes and rinse gently with water, though a little residue is OK to leave on the skin overnight. Used every day, it hydrates and calms the skin.
“Facial massage is another essential tool when recovering from sun damage, because it helps to stimulate blood flow to the affected area. If you love to use a tool, I recommend ReFa, since it’s intuitive to use and extremely gentle on the skin while it’s in recovery mode. I always advise my clients to finish their massage using their hands. Our fingers have sensory memory that tools don’t, and you can determine where your skin is at in the healing process by feeling its texture.”
Angela Caglia
Caglia works with everyone from Helena Christensen to Naomi Watts
“After a day in the sun, my rituals focus on calming inflammation. I usually apply a thick layer of my Soufflé Moisturizer like a mask, then take my Gold Cryo Set out of the freezer and gently glide the wands over the top until the cream is completely absorbed into my skin. This moisturizer is free of fragrance and essential oils and is packed with vitamins, aloe vera juice and goat milk. Together with the freezing temperatures of the cryo tool, the goat milk and aloe immediately soothe and calm my skin. I also only wash my face with cold water when it’s sensitized from the sun – and, for a bit of a ‘spa experience’, I’ll grate fresh cucumber, wrap it in a cotton tissue and make it into an eye mask to soothe the delicate, thinner skin around my eyes.”
Sarah Chapman
Chapman counts Victoria Beckham, Gigi Hadid and Jourdan Dunn as clients
“Firstly, I’ll do a double-cleanse to remove all traces of SPF and refresh my skin. Keeping a hydrating sheet mask in the refrigerator is my favorite summer-skincare hack. I do this with my Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Mask and it’s like a glass of water for the skin with a bonus cryotherapy treatment – fantastic for de-puffing and calming inflammation. I’ll then focus on locking in moisture and restoring my skin barrier with reparative ingredients. My Platinum Pep8 Stem Cell Serum is infused with gardenia stem cells, which help to rejuvenate and counteract the effects of UV damage, so I’ll layer that underneath a ceramide-rich cream to soothe skin and get it glowing again.”
Guendalina Gennari
Gennari is Jodie Turner-Smith’s facialist and is based in London
“I have acne-prone skin, so I try not to overdo it with products during the summer, but hydration is definitely the go-to for me. After having applied SPF all day, I always do a deep-cleanse with hydrating products. I love to use a very gentle, non-foaming gel cleanser that respects the pH of the skin but removes SPF and dust. After that, I apply a face and eye sheet mask – my favorites are the Bioeffect Imprinting Hydrogel masks, which are packed with hyaluronic acid and are extremely hydrating and soothing after a day in the sun. I keep them in the refrigerator for an extra-cooling effect. Then, I follow this with the brand’s EGF Power Serum, and I always finish with my go-to cream for the summer, which is a mix of hyaluronic acid, mimosa and bark extract – to feed the skin with nutrients and antioxidants following sun exposure.”